Vehicle direction indicator



J1me 2, 1942- E. c. HORTON 2,234,963

VEHICLE DIRECTION INDICATOR Fi led Aug. 17, 1939 s Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR E/MZ/Z Cjzorfolz, mam.

. ATTO RNEYS June 2, 1942. E, C, R QN 2,284,963

VEHICLE DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Aug. 17, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Erwin Cfiorfozz, /0.9 /01 3 M v 2 ATT RNEYS June' 2, 1942. E. c. HORTON 2,284,963

' VEHICLE DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Aug. 17, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTO R N EYS Patented June 2, 1942 VEHICLE DIRECTION INDICATOR Erwin. C. Horton, Hamburg, N. Y., assignor to Trico Products Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application August 17, 1939, Serial No. 290,649

8 Claims.

This invention relates to direction indicators and particularly to direction indicators for use in visually indicating an intention on the part of the operator to change the direction of a vehicle.

Many forms of vehicle direction indicators have been heretofore proposedbutthe device of the present invention operates in a novel manner and is believed to present, a more graphic and attention arresting indication or signal than-the devices of the prior art. According to the principlesof the present invention the visual signal gives the impression to the observer of a light source which is constantly progressing in the direction in which the turn is to be made. Thisimpression of light progression continues as long as the signal is illuminated, that is, for as long a period as the device is designed to remain operative before the turn is actually made.

The device of the present invention may conveniently be adapted to use in connection with a vehicle having an internal combustion propelling engine and when so used its motivating energy may be the pressure differential obtaining be; tween the interior of the intake manifold of the engine and the atmosphere. A manual control within convenient reach of the operator for selectively operating the device to indicate turns in either direction is preferably provided and in the specific embodiments illustrated such control may be effected either directly by valve means or by means of electrical devices for actuating remotely located valve means.

Fig. 3 is a top plan. view of manual control means associated with a vehicle steering post and with the cover member thereof removed; v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the mechanism appearing on a smaller scale in Fig. 2 and viewed inthe same manner as in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken approximatelyon the line VV of Fig. 2 with portions broken away;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of one form of electrical control means for a signal element con- While in the illustrated embodiments the de-.

vices are shown as being arranged for manual initiation and discontinuance, any of the known forms of resettingor unsetting devices for apparatus of this character may be availed 'of. Someof these devices embody time delay mechanism for automatically neutralizing a manually initiated signal while others are neutralized by the actual execution or completion of the turn through connection with the steering mechanism.

While several specific forms-which are exemplary of the principles of my invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the ensuing specification, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited save as defined in the appended claims. In the drawings: v

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevational view of apparatus comprising one form of my invention; i r

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view takenapproximately on the line IIII of Fig. 1;

structed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of another form of electrical control means for such signal element; and,

Fig. 8 is a detailed cross sectional view of the electromagnetically controlled valve arrangement of the modifications of Figs. 6 and '7.

In the drawings like characters of reference denote like parts and the numeral i0 designates generally a casing whichis mounted in a position on the vehicle where it may be seen from the exterior thereof. Turn signals are conventionally mounted exteriorly and at the rear of the vehicle but such signals are often mounted at the front of a vehicle or in the interior thereof in such position as to be seenfrom the outside and if desired several duplicate casings may be provided, either front and rear of the vehicle or at such other plural points as may be considered to render the signal visible from a greater number of vantage points.

' The form of signal casing which appears in elevation in Fig. 1 and in vertical cross section in Fig. 2 comprises a housing which-may be cir cular in form and relatively flat. In the illustrated instance the housing is made up of a pair of elements I! and I3 which comprise circular interfitting annular flanges i l and I5 respectively. One of the elements, in the present instance that designated 12, carries a central bearing element l6 which is provided with a pin II for rotatably supporting a flat disc I! which is disposed in relatively close proximity to'the interior wall of the casing element I3. The rotatable disc I8 is provided about its outer margin with a continuous series of circularly aligned openings I! for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

An arcuate opening 20 is formed in the face of the casing element l3 and to prevent. the admission of dirt and other foreign matter into the casing this opening 20 is preferably closed bine rotor 21.

by a pane 2! of glass, Celluloid, or any satisfactory transparent or translucent material which may, if desired, comprise a color filter for emitting red light or light of some other distinguishing color. While the arcuate opening may assume various dimensions, and may in fact comprise several related openings, the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 discloses an opening which is nearly semicircular in its extent'an d which occupies approximately the upper half of the face of the casing portion !3. If desired, the ends of the arcuate opening may consist of arrowheads as illustrated.

Still referring to the form of signal casing contemplated in Figs. 1 and 2, a pair of lamps 2e and are positioned in the casing and preferably against the inner wall of the casing portion l2. In the embodiment now being described. one lamp 24 is disposed behind the left-hand arrowhead as seen in Fig. 1 and the other lamp 25 is disposed behind the right-hand arrowhead. The lamps 24 and 25 are adapted to be selectively illuminated in a manner and for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

In the form of signal now under consideration a partial light-confining partition 26 is provided which extends from the central portion of the casing vertically upwardly to approximately the lower edge of the arcuate slot 20. The partition may alternatively be a full one, extending to the upper rim of the casing iflfor it may be omitted entirely with resulting minor alterations in the resulting signal indication. The variations in the signal which result from these modifications will be hereinafter discussed in greater particularity.

The lower half of the casing ll houses a turmay be provided by forming a cup-shaped depression 29 in the casing portion 62 and providing such depression with a closure or cover member 36. A bearing 3! may be formed in the depression 29 for supporting a turbine shaft 32.

The turbine rotor is positioned upon the turbineshaft adjacent one face of the bearing 3i and upon the opposite side of the bearing a pinion 83 is fixed to the shaft 32. The pinion 33 drives the disc i8 through the intervention of suitable intermediate gearing, usually for causing the disc A8 to rotate at a relatively slower speed than the comparatively high speed turbine rotor.

The intermediate gearing between the turbine shaft 32 and the rotatable disc 88 may be arranged as shown in Fig. 5 wherein the numerals 35 and 36 designate stub shafts which rotatably support pairs-ofugears 31, 38 and 39, respectively. The gears 31 and 3B are fixed for Joint rotation as are the gears 39 and 40. A gear 4| is flxed for rotation with the disc l6 and rotation of the latter by rotation of the turbine rotor 21 is accomplished through the gearing 33, 31, 38, 39, 40 and:

In the illustrated instance the gearing is such that the speed of the disc l8 would be materially less than the speed of the turbine rotor 2'! but the ratio between these two elements would depend upon two factors, namely, the normal operating speed of the particular turbine employed and the desired speed of operation of the disc l8, and consequently the driving ratio between the two might be varied between relatively wide limits without departing from the principles of the present invention.

I shall now discussthe preferred mode of transmitting operating fluid to the turbine and A suitable turbine chamber 28 an effective method of controlling and directing such transmission in order that operation of the turbine in either direction may be readily and selectively effected. In the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1, speaking generally, a conduit 43 leads from a source of differential fluid pressure which may be the intake manifold 64 of the internal combustion propelling engine 65 of an automotive vehicle, wherein subatmospherlc pressure normally exists during operation. The conduit 43 leads to a convenient point within reach of the operator of the vehicle, in the illustrated instance the steering column 46 of the vehicle, where it communicates with control means designated generally 41.

The control means d1 of Figs. 1 and 4 is arranged to alternatively direct motivating fluid pressure into either of two branch conduits 48 and 49 leading to the turbine chamber 28. The conduits lfi and 49 terminate respectively in "oppositely directed operating jets 5| and 52 for rotating the turbine rotor 21 in either direction depending upon which of the conduits 48 or 49 is connected with the conduit 43 by means of the control means 41. The control means may be so arranged as to vent to the atmosphere the one of the conduits 48,- 49 which is not connected to the suction conduit 43.

Giving attention to the specific arrangement of the control means and fluid conduits and jets disclosed in Figs. 1 and 3, a bracket 55 is secured to the steering column 46 by means of a strap 55 and the bracket is provided with a valve seating face 51. A valve lever 58 is pivotally mounted against the valve seating face 51 by means of a hollow fulcrum pin 59. The conduit is is connected with the fulcrum pin 59 or associated means at the under side of the bracket 55 and the partial vacuum existing in the intake manifold M is communicated to the valve seating face through the conduit 43 and the central opening 60 of the fulcrum pin 59.

A. pair of ports 6! and 62 are provided in the valve seating face 51 and are arranged to communicate with the conduits 48 and 49 respectively and the under face of the lever 58, the face which seats against the valve seating surface 5? of' the bracket 55, is provided with a groove 63 which extends therealong from the fulcrum point to a point sufficiently spaced therefrom to establish communication between the port 50 and either of the ports 6| or 62, depending upon the angular position of the lever 58. An interrupted flange 64 may be formed about the face 51 to provide motion limiting meansfor the lever 58 and to cooperate with a cover member for this mechanism, the cover member not being illustrated.

In the position shown in Fig. 3 the lever is in its left-hand position and fluid communication is established between the interior of the engine manifold 44 and the operating jet 5| through the conduit 43, the portv 65, the groove 63, the port ti and the conduit 48,. At the same time the port 62 is in free communication with the atmosphere and this condition establishes atmospheric commun'ication'for the turbine chamber 28 through the conduit 49 and the Jet 52.

-With the valve lever set inthis position the turbine chamber 28 will tend to become evacuated by reason of its connection with the intake manifold 44 but this tendency will be counteracted by an inrush of air at the jet 52 by virtue of its atmospheric connection through the conduit 49 and the port 62. The air entering at the a be utilized for both lamps.

aeeaocc rotation of the disc it cooperates in indicating an intention to turn will be hereinafter discussed in detail. Y

When the disc it is rotating in a counterclockwise direction to indicate'a left-hand turn it is desired, in the embodiment now being dis cussed, that the left-hand lamp it be illuminated,

and to this end a lamp circuit is provided having I Contact elements ill and ii are provided in the valve seating face to the left and right of the contact element Wand all three contact'clements are insulated from the valve seating face and the bracket 55 in a conventional manner.

A bridge piece or conductor strip 32 is disposed in the lower face of the valve lever 58 and insulated from the rest of the lever in any convenient manner. It will be noted that with the parts in the position illustrated in Fig; 3 the bridge piece overlies the left-hand contact it and the central contact 69. The left-hand contact ill has a conductor 13 leading to one terminal of the lamp 2% and the right-hand contact H has a conductor it leading to one terminal of i the lamp 25. Consequently in theposition shown one terminal of the lamp 2 3 will be in electrical communication with the battery 58.

ferred constructions a switch 15 is disposed in the conductor which leads to the ground for both of the lamps and this switch is so arranged as to be commonto both lamps 2t and 25. .Alter=- natively, the switch may be disposed inthe to the steering post if such arrangement be found desirable. The switch 15 is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, but, as shown in Fig. 2, actually comprises automatic switch means under the control of a governor mechanism which is associated with the turbine shaft 82.

An exemplary form of governor mechanism is illustrated on an enlarged scale in Fig. i and comprises a plurality of flyballs it each disposed at one end of a bell crank it. The sev- 19 in the position illustrated in Fig. 4.

An electrical contact element 85 is disposed against the inner wall of the turbine chamber cover til in proximity to-the free end of the resilient switch arm at and is suitably insulated from its supporting structure. The contact mem= "her is connected to a common ground conductor at leading from the lamps is and re and the resillentmetallic switch arm t l is connected di teeth; to the metallicv cover member 3% and it will be clear that movement of the switch arm 83 away from the end of the turbine shaft 32 in an axial direction will cause the contact members M and. 85 to come into electrical contact.

By such contact the ground wire fit is grounded to the indicator casing through the switch arm t l and it will therefore be clear that upon pivotal movement of the bell cranks it caused by centrifugal force urging the flyballs it away from the turbine shaft 32 that both of the lamps.

2d and 25 will be connected to ground. This results in illumination of whichever lamp has communication with the storage battery by virtue of the position ofthe valve lever 58, and in. the instance which is being described, the lefthand lamp will be illuminated. I It will be noted that movement of the lever 58 and consequent engagement of one of the con-- taste 7.0 or it with the contact 63 of the battery lead bl, in the embodiment now being described, merely sets up the proper lamp circuit and that such circuit is not completed from battery to ground until rotation of the turbine shaft 32 is at sumclent speed to cause closing of the switch formed by the contacts 8 8 and 85. Conversely, the activated lamp circuit will be automatically broken as soon as the speed of the turbine shaft 32 falls below a predetermined minimum which is regulated by the tension in the resilient arm 3% and theproportioning of the several associated parts of the automatic switch governor.

The operation of the modification which has thus far been described is as follows. When the operator of a vehicle equipped with the device of my invention decides to execute either a left or a right turn, he moves the control lever 58 into either its leftor its right-hand position, his

In one of the pre- 7 common conductor 67 leading from the batterychoice of position corresponding with the direction of the turn to be executed. Movement of.

the lever 58 into either of these positions effects the necessary fluid connections for producing clockwise rotation of the disc it if a right turn is to be made and counterclockwise rotation of the disc if a left turn is to be made.

Simultaneously with the activation of the disc i8 the electrical circuit'from the battery to one of the lamps 2d, 25 is completed; the left-hand lamp 2t if the rotation of the disc is counterclockwise,'and the right-hand lamp 25 if the I0- tation'of the disc is clockwise. At this point in the operation the lamp circuit is not completely closed, however, since the governor controlled switch d4, 85 is not closed until the rotation of the disc I 8 reaches a given speed. When such speed is reached the closure of theswitch 84, 85 grounds whichever lamp circuit is made by the valve lever 58 and thuscompletes an electrical circuit through that lamp.

With the left-hand lamp 24 illuminated and the discv I8 rotating in a counterclockwise direction the visual aspect of the signal is such as to indicate a left turn without any previous apprise- .ment on the part of the observer as to the mean- 24 in close proximity to the left-hand end of the arcuate opening 20, the relatively remote openings which become visible at the right-hand end of the arcuate opening 20 are comparatively dimly illuminated.

As each of the individual openings I 9 moves to-. ward the left-hand side of the arcuate opening and consequently toward the lighted lamp 24, it becomes more brightly illuminated and it reaches its peak of illumination just before it leaves the left-hand end of the opening and again becomes invisible. The resulting visual phenomenon is of a curved streak of light, more brightly illuminated at its left-hand end and giving the impression of constant motion toward the left even though the actual position of the arcuate opening remains unchanged. 4

In the illustration so far described the arcuate the arrowhead which is at the left end, assuming that the left-hand lamp 24 is illuminated, will be relatively much more brightly illuminated than the arrowhead at the right-hand end of the arcuate opening, and consequently the predominating impression conveyed to the observer is a signal of an intention to make a-left turn.-

In the form thus far described the partition 26 serves to assist in localization or concentration of the illumination at the left end of the opening when a left turn is contemplated and the right end of the opening when a right turn is contemplated. The partition 26 may be omitted entirely and the mere placement of the lamps may be relied upon for distributing the intensity of illumination in the desired manner or, on the other hand, the partition may be arranged to extend to the top of the casing and provide separate cham bers for the lamps 24 and 26, in which event each signal indication will only illuminate half of the arcuate opening, the left-hand half for left turns and the right-hand half for right turns.

I09 and an opening IIO extending therethrough and so disposed as to form a continuation of the conduit I04 when in its illustrated full line position.

In other words, in this position the valve I00 is ineffective, and the conduit I04 is uninterrupted. When the valve I08 is in this position the interior of the casing I02 communicates equally through both of its turbine .iets with the pressure conduit IOI and no action of the turbine takes place.

An electromagnet III for controlling. move--.

ments of each of the valves I08 i provided and such electromagnet may have a hollow core II2 of insulating material for receiving the valve member I08 which latter is adapted to be attracted to within the opening by energization of the electro-magnet. Normal disposition of the valve in its full line illustrated position is insured by the provision of a coil spring I I3 which is disposed between the upper end of the valve mem-- ber, as illustrated in Fig. 8, and the inside of the top of a casing II4 which is associated with the electromagnet I I I.

In Figs. 6 and 7 1 have illustrated modifications of my invention wherein electrical means are provided for controlling,- from the vehicle operators position, remotely located valve means which may be associated directly with the casing of the signal itself. In these modifications the mechanical construction of, the mechanism within the signal casing may be the same as in the previously described embodiment and for this reason Figs. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic.

The arrangement of the fluid pressure lines 'and the valve control means therefor are common to the modifications of Figs. 6 and 7 and for this reason they may be described simultaneously up to'a certain point. In each case the numeral I00 designates the internal combustion engine intake manifold and the fluid conduit extending therefrom is shownat IOI. Signal casings similar in mechanical construction to the casing I0 previously described are shown at I02 and adjacent such casings the fluid conduits IOI diverge to form a pair of operating conduits I03 and I04 which correspond in function to the conduits 48 and '49 respectively of the previously'described modification.

Electrically controlled valve' means for the conduits I03 and I04 are shown at I05 and I06 respectively in both Figs. 6 and 7 andone such means I06 is illustrated in greater detail in Fig. 8. Referring to Fig. 8, the conduit branch I04 is provided with a transverse opening which extends therethrough and receives a valve member we having an angularly formed terminal portion To limit outward movement of the valve I00 with respect to the electromagnet III a flange H5 is formed upon the former for engagement with a shoulder formed by a reduction in the diameter of the opening in the hollow core II 2. To definitely limit inward movement of the valve I08 with respect to the electromagnet (upward movement as viewed in Fig. 8) a projection H6 is formed on the casing H4 and engages the end of the valve I08 when the latter is attracted by the electromagnet so that the terminal portion I09 assumes the position indicated in dot and dash lines on Fig. 8.

When the valve I08 is in such retracted position the left-hand portion of the conduit I04,

as seen in Fig. 8., is closed off by the lower portion of the valve stem andthe right-hand portion of the conduit I04, as seen in that figure, is

opened to the atmosphere. The left-hand portion of the conduit leads to the main pressure conduit IOI while the right-hand portion leads to an associated jet in the turbine chamber,

analogous to the jet 52 of the first described embodiment.

It will therefore appear that when the electromagnet I II is energized to move the valve I00 to retracted position, all of the pressure differential in the main conduit IOI will be directed 'into the turbine chamber, turning the turbine rotor. I j

I shall now describe the electrical circuits which are provided in the modification of Fig. 6 for suitably and selectively energizing the electromagnets I05 and I06 and 'a pair of lamps I20. The vehicle storage battery is indicated at I2I and aconductor I22 leads therefrom'to a threeposition switch I 23. This switch is shownin Fig. 6 in neutral, open-circuit position but may be selectively moved to engage either of a pair of contacts I24 and I25.

When the switch is moved to engage the contact element I24 it closes the circuit through the electromagnet I06 by means of a conductor I21 which leads from the contact member I24 to one terminal of the electromagnet I06, and a con- 'a,aes,ece ductor 028 which 'leads from the other terminal of the electromagnetltt back to the opposite tional, to a suitable ground.

With such closing of the energizing circuit for the electromagnet 8%, the condition just deside of the Storage battery, or as is more convenone teal or the p, andf 'a conductorltl which extends from the opposite terminal oi the p to the battery to complete the circuit or to ground. 4

When the switch M2 is moved to establish electrical communication between the battery and the scribed in connection with the detailed descriptime. of the electromagneticallycontrolled valve mechanism of Fig. 8 is brought about with the result that the turbine is rotated in a clockwise terclockwise rotation of the associated indicating disc, and a left turn is indicated.

A governor controlled switch similar in constructlon to; the switch shown in Fig. 4 and described in connection with the-embodiment of Figs. 1 through d is provided as at ltd and is disposed in. an otherwise permanently closed ciriii . direction as seen in Fig.6, with'resultant councontact ltd, a circuit is completed through the other 'electromagnetically controlled valve tilt through a conductor E52 leading from the contact Ed t to one terminal of the electrome et ltd-and a conductcr idt which leads irom the opposite terminal ofthe electromagnet' it?) back I to the battery. or to ground. The lamp Mill is connected in parallel with theelectromagnet ltd lamp i438, and a conductor 65d which leads from [I the other terminal of the lamp ldllbaclr to the cult for the lamps flit, such circuit comprising the contact I which completes a circuit for the electromagnet I85 through a conductor tilt leading from the switch contact H25 to one terminal of the electromagndt m5, and a conductor it?) from the other terminal of the electromagnet it! .ba'ckto the opposite side of the battery or to ground.

u will be noted that in the embodiment or.

Fig.6 both lamps H0 are simultaneously energized each time the turbine reaches a speed sufficient to close the governor controlled switch tilt, regardless of the direction oi -tum which is being indicated. In,such case-the'iarcuate'slot of the signaljnasing ,is substantially uniformly illumimated; or at'least, the opposite ends of the slot will appear illuminated in equal degree. It will appear from this that the concentration of illumination referred to and set forth in detail in connection with the first described embodiment is not essential to operation of my invention since the direction of movement of the openings in the indicating disc as they move along the arcuate slotin either direction is sufiiciently graphic to apprise observers of the intended direction of turn. Obviously, the necessity or desirability of a partition of any' kind between the lamps 120 is not present when both lamps are arranged for simultaneous illumination.

I refer now'to the further modification of electrical control means for the electromagnetically controlled valve means 105 and Hill which is il-.

lustrated in Fig. '7. In this embodiment there is provided, as in the previous embodiment, an elec- I50 whichextends between the conductor Hi5 and by means of a conductor ltd which engages between the' conductor ltd and one terminal of the battery or to ground.

In Fig. 7 the conductor its is'shown connected to the conductor 156 from the other lamp it? and a common battery return or ground wire it? is provided. While the governor controlled switch for the lamp circuits which has been described in connection with the two previous embodiments is not shown incorporated in the embodiment of Fig. '7, and while its use is not necessary to satisfactory operation of the signal in any event, the advantages to be derived from its use may be availed of or not as desired in connection-with the apparatus of any of the embodiments herein 7 shown and described. Ifv such governor controlled switch is to be employed in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 7, it may conveniently be interposed in series with the conductor it? which comprises a common battery return for both lamps Mi and ltd, or, alternatively, a common ground conductor.

said rotatable member above a predetermined minimum velocity.

2. In a vehicle direction indicator, a rotatable member having a plurality of apertures therein, spaced illuminating elements behind said member and adapted, to cast light rays through said apertures, means for selectively rotating said member in either direction to warn observers of an intention to turn in the indicated direction, and automatic speed responsive means for rendering a selected one of said illuminating eletric storage battery M0 anda conductor id! leadments operative upon rotation of said rotatable member in a given direction at a predetermined speed.

3. In a vehicle direction indicator, a rotatable member having-a plurality of apertures therein,

a casing for said member and having an elongate, arcuate opening whereby each of said apertures is visible therethrough .for a portion of its period of revolution, means for selectively rotating said disc in either direction, illuminating means located adjacent each end of said opening whereby when one of said illuminating means is active said opening will be most intensely illuminated at one end and when the other of said illuminating means is active said opening will be most intensely illuminated at its other end, the

a given direction.

ing an arcuate opening whereby each of said apertures is visible therethrough for a portion of its cycle of revolution, the opposite terminal portions or said opening being shaped to simulate arrowheads, illuminating means located adjacent each of the terminal portions of said opening .whereby when one of said illuminating means is active said opening will be most intensely. illuminated adjacent the arrowhead at one end and when the other of said illuminating means is active said opening will be most intensely illumi nated at its other end, the distribution ofintensityof illumination cooperating with the direverse eflect when said, disc is rotated'in such opposite direction.

6. In a vehicle direction indicator, a rotatable member having a plurality of circularly arranged illuminable areas comprising a continuous row, means for rotating said member to warn observers of an intention toturn in an indicated direction, means for illuminating said illuminable areas, and automatic speed-responsive means for rendering said illuminating means operative upon rotation of said rotatable member above a predetermined velocity.

7. In a vehicle direction indicator, a rotatable disc having a plurality of illuminable areas comprising a continuous circularly extending row disposed to indicate direction, a casing tor said disc and having an pening therein whereby a rectional rotation of said rotatable member to 4 indicate an tion.

5. In a vehicle direction indicator, a rotatable disc having a plurality of circularly arranged apertures therein, a casing for said disc and having an arcuate opening whereby each 01' said apertures is visible therethrough for a portion of its cycle of revolution, means for selectively rotating said disc in opposite directions, illuminating means located adjacent one end 01' said arcuate opening and means for automatically activating the same when said discis rotated in one direction, whereby'said opening willv be most intensely illuminated at the said end thereof, said illumination diminishing in intensity toward the other end of said opening, illuminating means at the opposite end of said opening and means for automatically activating the same when said disc intention to turn in a given direcnumber or said areas comprising a finite arcuate row may be seen through said opening at a given time, and means for rotating said disc to warn observers 01'. an intention to turn in the indicated direction, illuminating means adjacent an is rotated in the opposite direction to produce a 40 end of said opening and adapted to be activated upon rotation of said disc in a direction whereby the areas visible through said opening move toward said illuminating means, whereby the intensity oi illumination of said areas will be greatest at said end of said opening and diminishing toward the opposite end thereof.

a. In a vehicle direction indicator, a rotatable member having a plurality or circularly arranged illuminable areas comprising a continuous row,

fluid means for rotating said member'to warn ob- ERWIN c. HORTON. 

